FLORENCE – Emotions and goals at Franchi for a pyrotechnic match, decided by Nzola’s goal in the Cesarini area which gives Fiorentina a precious victory.
Despite the unforgiving weather with a brief but intense downpour that hit the stadium half an hour before the start of the match, Franchi responded with the public present for great opportunities to push the Viola team into this Conference League semi-final first leg against the Belgian team Bruges. The fans welcome the teams as they enter the pitch with a “scarf” that involves all sectors, in an atmosphere of celebration and great expectation, with the dream of seeing Fiorentina, after a year, back in final of this European competition.
The match begins with the very enterprising guests: Thiago’s high shot in the 1st minute does not worry Terracciano but makes it clear that the Belgians have come to Florence to play the match openly, being able to count on good team organization and some strong individualities .
But on the first ring it is the Viola who strike: in the 5th minute Nico Gonzalez opens for Sottil who from the right top of the area targets the defense, centers himself and unleashes a wonderful right-footed shot that goes into the net without leaving Jackers a chance. Excellent goal for the Viola winger, who also scored last Sunday against Sassuolo, in whom the Italian coach wanted to give confidence due to his excellent form.
On the wings of enthusiasm, Fiorentina continues to attack and put their opponents in difficulty, shaken by the “cold” goal conceded: in the 9th minute, a good initiative by Beltran, an opening by Sottil and a cross deflected towards the center of the area, on the ball Nico attacks but shoots high from a favorable position.
In the 13th minute, following a lucky rebound in the disengagement phase, the ball reaches the feet of Thiago who flies towards the Viola goal; Terracciano is good at closing the target on the way out but on Thiago’s next attempt the ball is blocked by Biraghi with a suspicious handball. After a consultation with the VAR and viewing the replay of the action on the monitor, the referee Oliver (the one with the famous “rubbish bin instead of the heart” according to Buffon) awards the penalty to Bruges and from the spot Vanaken does not wrong.
The draw does not dampen Franchi’s pace and enthusiasm, in the 24th minute Nico tries again from inside the area but his left-footed counter-ball ends up not far from the top corner of Jackers’ goal. Fiorentina’s Argentine ten was once again the protagonist in the following minutes, first with a central header which was blocked without difficulty by Jackers, then with a right-footed shot from a tight angle which resulted in a corner kick.
Around half an hour of play, the intensity drops and the match continues on a balanced path, even if it is always the hosts who maintain superiority in ball possession and Bruges almost never threatens in the Terracciano area.
In the 37th minute Dodò’s through ball towards Bonaventura who launches a central but powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the area, Jackers rejects it imperfectly, the ball returns to Nico who passes it into the middle for Belotti: the Viola attacker takes advantage of a slightly ‘ lightly to turn and beat the Belgian goalkeeper with a low left foot, giving the Viola the lead again. Important goal for Belotti, until then impalpable, which breaks the balance and leads Fiorentina to start attacking again with conviction and continuity.
In the 43rd minute, a soft cross from Bonaventura for Beltran, a header from the Argentine attacker and the ball just over the crossbar for a potentially very dangerous opportunity which effectively closed the first half.
The second half opens in the 50th minute with a wonderful opportunity for Fiorentina: free kick from the left wing taken by Biraghi, in the center Belotti anticipates everyone and heads the ball but Jackers makes a great save and touches the ball just enough to raise it above the crossbar.
In the 60th minute, a persistent action by Thiago who, despite slipping, manages to put in an inviting ball for Jutglà who however arrives a whisker late also thanks to an excellent defensive intervention by Martinez Quarta who unravels the threat.
The match proceeds in fits and starts and the competitive spirit rises, Onyedika pays the price as in the 61st minute he gets sent off for the second yellow card after a harsh intervention on Kouamè who was restarting on the wing. However, Fiorentina did not take advantage of their numerical superiority and in fact in the 63rd minute they allowed themselves to be undermined by a personal action by Thiago on the counterattack: the Brazilian striker from Bruges sprinted from his own half of the pitch in a regular position and knocked down Spileers’ long throw , burns Ranieri at speed and strikes Terracciano with a precise right to cross.
The Italian team tries to absorb the blow but gets caught up in the frenzy and shows little clarity in the setup phase, so much so that the numerical superiority present on the pitch is not noticed. The Viola attack but in a sometimes confused and imprecise manner, while Brugge relies on rapid counterattacks and tries whenever possible to break the rhythm and waste some time.
In the 80th minute Ikonè’s fireball commits Jackers to a corner deflection, following which Fiorentina claims for a touch from a defender’s hand, but the referee lets it continue. A minute later, another soft cross from Biraghi for Belotti’s header, which fails to hit the target.
Viola attacked in the final minutes in search of the opening goal, but the wall erected by the Belgians to defend this precious draw seemed to hold up against Fiorentina’s willing but unsuccessful attacks. But when injury time had already begun, fate would have it that the winning goal was scored by Nzola, who came on for two minutes, returning from an injury and more generally from a disappointing season with many shadows. It is he who follows the insistent action of Ikonè who enters the area and hits the post: the Angolan striker is the first to pounce on the rebound and fire into the net in anger, for a goal which is greeted by the exultation of Franchi and the embrace of all his comrades.
It could be the goal that redeems an entire season, and that for the moment gives the Viola the first round of the semi-finals, awaiting the delicate trip to Bruges next Thursday, where Italiano’s men will have two results out of three available. Athens is still far away, but in the meantime the first piece has been laid with this fundamental victory.
FIORENTINA (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Dodò, Martinez Quarta, Ranieri, Biraghi; Arthur (70′ Lopez), Bonaventura (88′ Barak); Nico Gonzalez, Sottil (52′ Kouamè), Beltran (70′ Ikonè); Belotti (88′ Nzola). Available: Christensen, Milenkovic, Faraoni, Parisi, Kayode, Duncan, Mandragora. All. Italian.
BRUGES (4-4-1-1): Jackers; Sabbe, Spileers (90’+3 Ordonez), Mechele, Meijer; Skoras (65′ Nielsen), Odoi (90’+3 Balanta), Onyedika, Jutglà (79′ Vetlesen); Vanaken; Thiago. Available: Mignolet, Boyata, De Cuyper, Skov Olsen, Nusa, Zinckernagel. All. Hayen.
REFEREE: Michael Oliver (England)
NETWORKS: 5′ Sottil, 17′ Vanaken penalty, 37′ Belotti, 63′ Thiago, 90’+1 Nzola
NOTE: Nico Gonzalez, Onyedika, Jackers booked; Onyedika sent off in the 61st minute due to yellow cards; corners 8-1; shots on goal 10-3; recovery: 5′ and 5′
